Label handling system

ABSTRACT

Label and carrier tape assembly and method, especially for center fold type fabric labels, with each label having one end removably adhered to a carrier tape and the opposite free end overlapping the adhered end of the adjacent label, with advancement of the tape in a non-linear path successively label ends to protrude for removal of labels from the tape and securement.

United States Patent Templeton et a1.

LABEL HANDLING SYSTEM Inventors: John Glenn Templeton; Calvin W.

Seitz, both of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Assignee: Rospatch Corporation, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Filed: March 2, 1970 Appl. No.: 15,649

US. Cl ..206/56 AB, 206/59 R, 221/70 Int. Cl. ..B65d 83/08 Field of Search.....206/56 AB, 58, 59 R; 221/70,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Porter ...206/56 AB [is] 3,692,176 51 Sept. 19, 1972 2,170,147 8/1939 Lane ..206/56 AB 2,276,296 3/1942 Flood ..206/5 8 2,417,497 3/1947 Hulslander, Sr. ..206/58 3,459,297 8/1969 Templeton et a1 ..206/73 Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. Att0rneyPrice, Heneveld, l-luizenga & Cooper [5 7] ABSTRACT Label and carrier tape assembly and method, especially for center fold type fabric labels, with each label having one end removably'adlrered to a carrier tape and the opposite free end overlapping the adhered end of the adjacent label, with advancement of the tape in a non-linear path successively label ends to protrude for removal of labels from the tape and securement.

2 Claims,3 Drawing Figures LABEL HANDLING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to label handling, andmore particularly to alabel and carrier tape assembly and method especially useful for folded fabric labels of the type to be attached to goods such as clothing.

Labels of the fabric type for attachment to clothing and the like are commonly packed, shipped; and handled in stacks of individual labels. In the stack form, the labels, when attached to goods, are manually or auto-. matically. removed singly from.the stack. As is well known in thetrade, this mode of handling is tricky and frequently troublesome, especially when attempts at high speed manipulation are made. The labels tendto become disorganized, and are difficult to separate, to

name justtwo disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I It is anobject of this invention toprovide anovel label and carrier tape assembly and method. The labels. are securely retained onthe tape during handling, yet

readily and dependably removed as desired, either manually or automatically. Each label is presentedin optimum position for removal, andmoreover for; instant attachment to the goods while still secured to the tape, so that itneed :never be in unattached condition.

Further, the methodand assembly are capable of opposite free end of eachoverlapping the adhered end of the adjacent label. Center foldlabels have the folded end attached to enable insertionof'the label edges into.

a seam or the like. The carrier tape is relatively more flexible, i.e., less stiff, thanthe labels sothat successive removal of individuallabels is achieved with advancement of the carrier tape in. a non-linear path, through a.

sharp angle, causing the advanced end of eachJabel to protrude for gripping and attachment and then complete removal from. the tape with subsequent tape advancement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one formof the label and carrier tape assembly;

FIG. 2 is a. fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view of label removal and. attachment steps for the form in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a second. form of assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, assembly illustrates the combination of a carrier tape means 12 and plurality of labels 14 in wound form on a suitable spoolv 16. The spool can be rotationally mounted to enable the tape to be advanced during use of the labels.

Carrier tape means 12 includes a backing strip or tape 18 as of paper orother highly flexible equivalent material, normally having a layer 20 of adhesive on one face thereof for attachment of the individual labels L thereto. The tape can extend substantially the breadth of the labelsoronly a portion thereof. Itcan be a single strand ormore than one strand as desirable. The plurality of labels L when properly arranged and attached form label grouping 14. Preferably, adhesive layer20 is a pressure sensitive adhesive whichmay or may not be also thermally sensitive. The adhesive is one ofthe types presently widely available, and enables the labels to be removed therefrom .without: the labels retaining the adhesive characteristic on their surface. The adhesive surface of the labels may include a controlled amount of a release agent; such as a silicone or the equivalent to effect this. The individual labels L areapplied to the carrier tape in a special relationship with respectto each other. This assembly and method is particularly advantageous with respect to so-calledcenter fold labels and therefore the method and assembly is chiefly describedherein with respect thereto. It is also conceivable however that other label forms may be employed, and; these are to be included within the broadest concept presented herein.

According to the special mounting relationship, one end ofeach label is removably adhered to the adhesive face ofthe carrier, tape, whilethe opposite end overlaps the adhered end of the adjacent label. Hence, the series oflabels assume like positioning with respect to the adjacent labels. The overlap of the individual labels is purposely considerable sothat, even though each label has a substantial free portion not attached to the carrier tape, it is secure on the carrier tape not only because of its adhesive attachment at one end portion,'but also because of the supplemental retension force provided by the adjacent overlapping labels; When the labels are appliedto the carrier tape, they may suitably wound in a spoolrform as illustrated in FIG. 1, or in any other convenient fromfon handling and shipping to the ultimate user.

The. user can, accurately, dependably, conveniently, and rapidly remove the individual labels from the carrier tape, yet; without the labels ever being in free form to become disorganized, disoriented, or the like. The labels can be gripped and attached to the ultimate goods prior to removal from the carrier tape. They can be subsequently removed-from the carrier tape simply by advancement of the tape. More particularly, the labels to be attachedto the goods such as clothing item 30 (illustrated in fragmentary form. in FIG. 2), are individually positioned by advancing the carrier tape as with suitable powered, gripping and pulling rolls 32 and 32' or other means, to pull the carrier tape in a nonlinear path, preferably one which moves around a guide member or edge 34. through a sharp angle. This guide member 34 can in its simplest form be a fixed edge of support platen 36, or alternatively may be a rotatable member such as a small roller. The non-linear movement preferably is through an. angle of a substantial amount, such as the obtuse angle illustrated in FIG. 2 in a manner causing the carrier to sharply change directions. The particular angle will depend upon the nature of the label, the material from which it is made, the nature of its fold, etc. The carrier is purposely made of a more flexible material, i.e., the individual labels L are relatively stiffer, to cause proper label protrusion. The labels frequently have been previously treated with an impregnating or coating material such as a resin to cause them to maintain their neat form when the garment is washed. This reagent, added for this different purpose, helps to provide the stiffness necessary to make the label less flexible than the carrier tape on which it is mounted. Hence, by conducting the carrier tape in the non-linear path, the relatively less flexible label tends to continue in its previous generally linear advancement path across and beyond support 36. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the carrier is advanced in a direction toward the free overlapping ends of the labels, causing the free end of each label to protrude beyond guide 34 as illustrated by the foremost label L in FIG. 2.

The carrier tape is intermittently advanced to position each successive label with its free end protruding in this fashion. Hence, by positioning suitable label attaching means such as a sewing mechanism, including support platform 50, vertically shiftable presser foot 52, and cooperative sewing needle 54, immediately adjacent guide member 34, an item of clothing 30 can be positioned to cause the label to be positioned by the tape for immediate attachment. Thus, the sewing apparatus can attach label L to the clothing item even before the label is removed from the tape. Furthermore, the free edges of a center fold type label as shown can be directly secured in a folded seam portion 30' of clothing 30 in optimum fashion in the industry since the label has its free end projecting into the seam as illustrated.

After the label is attached to the goods, the carrier tape is again advanced one step. The gripping sewing mechanism retains the label as the carrier tape advances, to peel the label from the tape. Hence, the label is at not time in a free form but rather is first attached to the tape, subsequently attached to both the tape and the goods, and thirdly attached to the goods.

In FIG. 3 is shown'an alternate arrangement wherein the labels L" attached to the carrier 18' by adhesive 20 are advanced in the direction toward the attached label end portions rather than the label free ends. The non-linear path of the carrier past the edge of platform guide 36 causes label separation.

It will be realized that, instead of the sewing mechanism illustrated, equivalent label securing means such as pressure applying means and/or heating means can be employed to activate pressure and/or thermally sensitive adhesive on the label and/or on the goods to secure the label by adhesion rather than by stitching.

It is conceivable that certain additional advantages might be obvious to those in this art upon reviewing these teachings. It is also conceivable that various additional minor changes in the assembly and/or the equipment with which it is used, in addition to those specifically noted above, may be advisable when using this concept, depending upon the type of label, the type of carrier strip employed, the type of adhesive, the type of attachment to the goods, the type of goods to which the label is attached, and so forth.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Alabel and carrier strip asse bly comprising: carrier strip means and a plura lty of labels thereon;

each label having one end portion removably adhered to said strip means, and having the opposite end portion overlapping the adhered one end portion of the adjacent label, with all of said labels being overlapped in the same uniform manner, said opposite overlapping end portions being free, as opposed to said one end portions being adhesively attached, and said labels being relatively less flexible than said carrier strip means so that the individual labels can be conveniently removed from said carrier strip means by non-linear advancement of said strip means 2. The label and carrier tape assembly in claim 1 wherein said labels are of the center fold type so that said one end has the fold and said opposite end has adjacent edges, whereby the adjacent edges can be caused to protrude. 

1. A label and carrier strip assembly comprising: carrier strip means and a plurality of labels thereon; each label having one end portion removably adhered to said strip means, and having the opposite end portion overlapping the adhered one end portion of the adjacent label, with all of said labels being overlapped in the same uniform manner, said opposite overlapping end portions being free, as opposed to said one end portions being adhesively attached, and said labels being relatively less flexible than said carrier strip means so that the individual labels can be conveniently removed from said carrier strip means by non-linear advancement of said strip means
 2. The label and carrier tape assembly in claim 1 wherein said labels are of the center fold type so that said one end has the fold and said opposite end has adjacent edges, whereby the adjacent edges can be caused to protrude. 